Review on LotFancy Freon Leak Detector: Ultimate HVAC Refrigerant Gas Leakage Tester for Home & Professional Use - CFCs, HCFCs, HFCs, R134a R1234yf R410a R22 R11 Compatible, High Accuracy & Indicator Light by Julio Diaz

This is going to be a long review from my husband: I am a novice auto mechanic and after that I decided to upgrade my 17 year old car's A/C dumped R134a in the winter and had no idea such a device existed until I asked on the forums. This inexpensive device has saved me from throwing $300 worth of new parts out the window. After reassembling my A/C and making sure everything was tightened to spec (new o-rings, compressor, battery, throttle body expansion valve), I pulled the vacuum. in the system. To my great dismay there was a leak in the system (-28psi became -2psi within an hour). After 2 hours of testing in only 100 degree heat in the garage I decided to buy an AC all in one paint kit and paint. The cost was a little more than this sniffer. I squirted a few ounces through the manifold (as per many youtube videos) and had enough pressure to run a new compressor for 20 minutes. I then examined the leaks in the dark. after tilting the mirror into a hard-to-reach area for an hour (thanks GM, the 1999 Buick Regal decided to cover up the hole under the brake booster and brake module - I'd like to know how the design committee passed), I Still couldn't find the leak. I tried checking for leak sounds with a stethoscope, but the gurgling inside the system made it difficult to understand the sounds. I tried again a day later when I felt the ozone layer open up over my house when I threw another expensive 12-ounce can of Suva in the car. Again no trace of dye. My theory is that there isn't enough circulation in the system to get to the other side. I was then given an ultimatum - I would build my car and drive without air conditioning, also taking my investment in a vacuum cleaner, compressor and new tools as a lesson. It was still less than what a mechanic would have taken. Then I saw a video of using a leak detection tool and figured solving the mystery of the leak would be better than giving up, so I ordered (and even paid for overnight delivery). After reading some reviews about this product, here's what I learned: Make sure you put in 4 (four) AAA batteries; Some people don't understand what it takes. 4. Next, be aware that Freon/Suva/134a/R12 sinks - it's heavier than air. Based on this physics, you need to run the sniffer slowly along your path without starting the fan. It was worth the puddle of sweat I left on the floor in the hot garage. After putting the batteries in the unit, I turned it on and went to the garage and the beeping started to increase. I didn't even go to the car, but then I discovered that one of my valves wasn't fully closed and the unit had a small leak. Wow! I then held the device under many connectors and within 2 minutes found the leak in the last spot I was expecting - the easiest and most accessible spot. I dumped a few ounces of Suva (R134a) into the system without starting the car and jumped for joy. The dye couldn't find this leak because it was furthest from the dye point and the compressor didn't blow it far enough. As it turned out, one of the new O-rings wasn't enough to seal the leak. Because of the ease of use of this device and its low cost compared to a dye detector, I highly recommend it in your toolbox. especially if you are a beginner. It also works for other types of chlorine/fluorine/bromine gases, but all I was interested in was detecting R134a. I haven't replaced the o-ring yet, but I was excited enough to write this review because it was easy to find. My children will have air conditioning in their cars again. First world problems. Edit: Having seen some other reviews, I would like to point out that my device did not come with batteries. I used fresh AAA (alkaline) batteries. The manual was also very detailed and I didn't notice any glaring grammatical errors (page through), but I found the manual to be perfect (the quick start guide is stuck on the device with 5 easy steps). The padded carry case fits in my sniffer and protects the tip for my next AC adventure, but I'll remove the batteries to keep them from deteriorating. I would also like to point out that the results were consistent with the location. My 9 year old even tried it and thought it was amazing.